ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - September 14, 2026

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, preparing you for tomorrow starting tonight and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Right now we're taking a live look at News Vista Way in Raleigh where police are investigating a shooting there. So far we've learned there is one victim with a gunshot wound that is believed to be a non-threatening injury. This is at the River Haven apartment complex. It's right off Capitol Boulevard. north of I-540. You can see a huge RPD presence there on the scene. And while they're trying to figure out who shot that person, they have not released any details exactly about the circumstances running the shooting or who the shooter is, who they may be looking for. More as we get it from the scene of the breaking news in Wake County, this half hour here on eyewitness news. But first, we're continuing to follow a major disruption in the town of Kerry after a water main burst early this morning.

We're glad you're joining us here for this late edition of eyewitness news after Monday night football. I'm C Dinole. And I'm Lauren Johnson. Thousands and Kerry still dealing with the aftermath of that massive water main break. It happened on NC-55 near High House Road. It's a story we've been following as breaking news since eyewitness news at 4.30 this morning. And tonight, the issue has still not been resolved. Tom George took those concerns to the utilities director. He joins us live from where that break happened along Highway 55. Tom, tonight, you're learning that road will remain closed. Yeah, that's right. It is still partially blocked off right now as they still work to resolve. I want to show you though just how severe this damages. This is a close up of view of where those crews have been working. Take a look at this. You can see some of that damage left behind from that massive water main break and this is one of the largest ones that we've

seen in carry and as more people move here. This is something that is concerning a lot of people about whether this could happen again. Schools letting out early Wake Med Carey Hospital canceling some surgeries and families trying to stock up on cases of water. The water main break taking its toll on thousands of its toll on thousands of people across Carrie. One after another, restaurants in downtown Carrie closing up shop for the day. Others like Taipei 101 staying open. It's been okay. It's kind of slow.

But they say it's been a challenge having to boil water to keep the doors open for their customers. Our water, we do have like water kettle that keeps the water boiling and our water heater's working properly. The massive 30-inch water main break, one of the largest in the town of Carrie, leaving many wondering how this happened. The town utilities director telling ABC 11, as they make those repairs, they're working to figure out a cause. Early indications are showing us is that we may have had a stress fracture in the side of the pipe,

and so that's one of the things for us to figure out is what triggered that stress fracture. He says the pipes are over 30 years old. A typical lifespan can be 50 to 100 years, so it's well within its normal use, but he also says some extra fixes could need to be made. It could be some new infrastructure that helps make the pipeline work better,

helps relieve air from the pipeline. It could be some additional coatings on the pipeline when it goes in, you know, all of those kinds of tools and variations, so to speak, that help make a pipeline last longer. He says that's especially true with more and more people rapidly moving to carry. They're constantly having to make sure the system can keep up. We look at our system all the time. We have a very robust water main replacement program. We replace water mains on a regular basis.

We do condition assessments. So we're constantly looking at our system and trying to improve and make. it better including adding parallel transmission lines when they're needed. Yeah so a lot of big picture questions as many people are continuing to move to Western Wake County about these water systems but take a look right here back out live here you can still see some of this section of Highway 55 blocked off right now. Again that work still continues we are told by the town of Kerry that they do have the pressure back to normal the next step in that process will be getting that final round of testing

early tomorrow morning before we can learn whether they can get the all clear after that boil water advisory. So we're going to keep an eye on that tomorrow morning. Reporting live, Tom, Georgia, ABC 11, I witness news. Fingers crossed for some clean water Tuesday morning. Tom, thank you. Madison, breaking news unfolding in Washington tonight. The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to restrict mail-in voting. It's a move that clears the way for states to send out absentee ballots ahead of the midterm elections. Michael Perchuk joins us now in studio. Michael, the Supreme Court blocking something that would have led to some big changes.

coming up this election season. Yeah, Steve Lorne, in a 7-2 ruling tonight. The High Court kept in place a lower court decision blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing new restrictions on mail-in-balance. The court wrote that the government is, quote, unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge. The Trump administration had wanted states

provide voter lists, including names, addresses, and barcodes to the Postal Service. The Postal Service would then only deliver ballots to voters on those lists. Critics, including voting advocacy groups, the policy was an unconstitutional attempt to federalize state-run elections. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented saying they would have allowed the restrictions to go forward. Justice Brett Kavana agreed with majority but based his decision primarily on timing,

saying less than two months before the midterms was simply not enough time for states to comply. Tonight, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson celebrating the Supreme Court's decision. He released this statement that says in part, we appreciate the court recognizing. the practical reality of the situation, voting has begun. You don't change the rules in the middle of the election. Now, this is a particularly notable development right here in North Carolina, where mail and ballots have already been sent out. Steve, Lauren. Michael, thanks. And as we approached the November election, these are important dates to remember right here on your screen. October 9th is the deadline to register to vote. In-person, early voting is

from October 15th through the 31st, and the final date of request in absentee ballot is October 20th. November 3rd is Election Day, which is also the deadline for all absentee ballots to be back at your County Board of Elections. A Durham family is in morning tonight after a 9-year-old boy was hit and killed while riding his bike yesterday near the family's home. It happened to a nightwood drive at Bingle Drive, and tonight we're hearing from a family who's ending the day without their little boy. I wanted to be over. The family talked to our Dwan Hogarth this afternoon. They tell us 9-year-old Keegan Brooks was heading to ride his bike with a friend. moments later that friend came running and screaming saying Keegan had been hit by a car his mother

emotional telling eyewitness news what those final moments were like with her son i took off running and got to him there's nothing i could do he was just laying there during police have not said if kegan was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash meanwhile oak grove elementary sending a message to parents calling kegan quote a wonderful member of the oak grove school community it went on to say our school team, along with the DPS student support services team, is working to help our students cope with this loss. The man charged with causing a disturbance at a gathering of black student groups at UNC Chapel Hill faced a judge in Orange County after he was initially due in court on Friday. 45-year-old Keegan Wilson faces disorderly conduct and simple assault charges in connection with that incident at Greenlaw Hall. These black student groups were having to watch party before the disturbance.

In court today, Wilson was ordered not to trespass on the UNC campus and not to have any contact with the victims. request was also made to have him evaluated while he's in custody. Wilson is due back in court later this month. New tonight, Durham County Commissioners approving a plan. They're hoping cuts down on gun violence and saves lives. The ideas come from faith leaders and public safety officials and community advocates in the Durham violence reduction working group. It comes as eyewitness news is speaking with the mother of a Durham woman shot and killed over the weekend that victim's ex-boyfriend now being held without bond. Michael Perchick pulling double duty for us tonight. He has more on what ultimately led to that decision.

What was important for me was to make sure that my opinions were heard. Kalila Donald has lived in Durham for nearly three decades and wants to see progress in curbing gun violence. She believes that includes hearing from those who have committed it. Those are the people that you're really going to find the solutions from. They have unfortunately been in those circumstances. The former corrections officer also supports proactive engagement. Using the schools, really having conversations about debates about how to solve conflicts without guns is extremely important.

Tonight, Durham County Commissioners unanimously endorsing and supporting resolution, laying out five strategies, implementing a focused deterrent initiative engaging highest-risk individuals and groups, reinvesting in community-based street outreach with strong safeguards, piloting place-based partnerships in the highest-risk areas, overlaying trauma-informed cognitive behavioral techniques and convening a youth summit on saving lives to address distinct challenges. Through September 5th year to date, violent crime in the city of Durham is up 4% though homicides have dropped. Tragically this past weekend, DPD responded to a new case when Victoria James was shot and killed inside her car along the 5,300 block of Revere Road. James' two children were inside, her daughter injured, her son unharmed.

38-year-old Launcel Alston has been charred with first-degree murder. Court records show he was convicted of assault on a female in 2018 as part of a separate case. He's due back in court next month. Her life is just taken for no reason, no reason, just because somebody don't want you in their life. He just took her. In Durham on Michael Perchick, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Michael, thank you in a major reversal patients at some atrium hospitals will no longer see higher out-of-pocket and deductible cost. when the North Carolina State Health Plan's new tiered hospital network takes effect next year.

Twelve of atrium's hospitals and clinics will now be included in the access tier when the new network takes effect on January 1st, 27. One of those hospitals is Columbus Regional Healthcare System in the Sand Hills. Access is a mid-level tier that will keep members' costs nearly the same as they were in 2006. When receiving care at those locations, the decision comes after pushback from an earlier announcement that designated those facilities as not, preferred and would have led to higher cost for members at those locations. The state health plan serves nearly 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, and their dependents across North Carolina. So to come here on eyewitness news, tech experts are sounding the alarm about the risk of the

rapid development of AI. The latest on the warnings coming from the highest echelons of the AI industry. And Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell returning to Capitol Hill after an extended absence, the latest on his health and what he's saying about his final month. in office. And Cruz is in for Don with news of a little break from the heat and humidity around here. Yeah, temperature is dropping into the 70s at this time. By the time you're stepping out the door tomorrow, we could have 50s and 60s, and we've got a break from the humidity. The details coming up in your seven-day forecast after the break. We're following new warnings from top leaders in

artificial intelligence. They're now publicly raising concerns about their own technology. The head of AI company Anthropic Dario Amadee says he's now convinced AI development should slow down. And a new essay, he agrees the technology is advancing so quickly it could eventually outpace humanity's ability to control it. His warning comes days after a researcher left the company claiming some people building AI believe the technology could pose a serious threat if left unchecked. Open AI Sam Altman has also backed some of Amadez proposals, including independent reviews of AI company's safety practices. No one could look at that and say this isn't a potential concern, right? That economic disruption isn't

a potential concern when these models have these incredible intellectual abilities. The nightmare scenario for six to 12 months would be that you have, you know, a swarm of these agents that, you know, that forms some kind of botnet collective and, you know, could take down large segments of the internet. And then as the capability increases, it gets worse from there. And then, you know, perhaps you get into some of the more extreme scenarios. The debate is now moving to Washington. Some members of Congress are calling for new federal hard rails while President Trump says he's concerned about slowing American innovation in competition with China. Altman and Amadegh are both expected to speak tomorrow at a conference in California.

New tonight from Washington, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has made his return to the Senate. Video shows the 84-year-old leaving his house in Washington earlier today in a wheelchair. McConnell has since released a statement saying he plans to cast his first vote since stepping away from the Senate after he took a bad fall in June. McConnell said his recovery has been long and frustrating, adding he is still not back to 100%. He says he plans on being present for votes when the Republican conference needs him. McConnell previously announced he is not running for re-election this year. In Wake County, an 18-year-old man charged in the Triangle Town Center shooting in April has now taken a plea deal. Three people were hurt in that shooting.

Police say Marcus Neal shot a gun at least seven times inside the mall. According to court paperwork, Neil pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon in exchange for having five other charges dropped. As part of the deal, Neil was given supervised probation for two years and needs to do community service. A woman has been charged with animal cruelty in Wake County on Friday. Deputies with the sheriff's office were called to a home on Pendleton Lake in Raleigh. When they arrived, they found three dogs dead at the home. Two other dogs and three cats were removed from that property. Sixty-six-year-old Karen Tubman was then arrested and charged. Both the president and the first lady are making trips here to North Carolina this week.

The White House says Melania Trump is going to Ash County tomorrow in the western part of the state to promote resiliency after Hurricane Helene and also talk about education in schools. And then President Trump is going to the Charlotte area on Wednesday night. He'll be campaigning for Michael Watley, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate who's facing former Governor Roy Cooper. Trump is speaking at the Gastonia Airport at 7 p.m. UNC. Health in Chatham County is celebrating a great milestone at its maternity care center. The birth of baby number 1,000. Yeah, baby Malin became the center's 1,000th. delivery arriving on September 8th the same day. That facility marked six years of caring for families in Chatham County. Her parents, Maria Garcia Villa and Omero Hernandez-Gusman, say they're thrilled to welcome their newest family member there at the hospital.

And it looks like Malin has a smile on her face. Eyes closed, but I think she's smiling right there. I know. I think she knows that she's a big deal, huh? Snoozing and smiling. Good for her. That's right. I cruises with us in for dawn tonight after a summer-like day, but it's going to feel a little more like fall around. here in the days ahead. The humidity is going down, down, down. Yes, it is. Thankfully, and I'm glad that you said a little more like fall. I don't want nobody coming for me. Maybe if you're going to get your pumpkin spice, you've got to do it early. Okay. One step at a time here. That's right. We've got to take it slow. All right. Well, we know it's been very humid, including today, but we're about to get a break from the humidity. The muggy meter, as we like to call it. This is going to stay in the comfy category for the next several days. By the time we get toward this

weekend you see that humidity rising once again. So Saturday and Sunday not only are going to be hot days, but they'll be humid again. So let's focus on what's going on right now. And these are the tipters that you're going to step out the door to tomorrow morning. We've got 50s up in our northern counties, areas like Roxborough Henderson, Roneock Rapids. You wake up around 58, low 60s in the triangle, mid to upper 60s and the sandhills. But without the humidity, it's not going to feel all that bad. So you wake up with a decent amount of sunshine. There could be some clouds out there as well, But these are high fair weather clouds. We'll see more of those stream through at times throughout the afternoon.

High temperatures should push into the low to mid-80s tomorrow. And you get a nice evening out of it as well with tipters dropping into the 70s and eventually the 60s. So tomorrow morning it's going to feel much different than it did this morning. We woke up warm and muggy. We spent a lot of time in the 60s through about 9 a.m. tomorrow. Then we jump into the 70s. Still have not reached 80 by noon tomorrow. But in the afternoon, if you want to get outside, you have plenty of opportunity to do.

so tipter should be in the 80s for the duration of the afternoon and then we get a nice pleasant evening dropping into the 70s by 7 p.m. Now this is a statewide thing. Winds will be out of the northeast. So the low humidity, that's a thing for all across the state. So maybe you're not staying local tomorrow and you're traveling to somewhere else. Still going to feel nice outside with these 80s back in the forecast. Going forward, it will turn a little bit warmer gradually as we go to the middle of the week. Wednesday, 86, still dealing with low humidity there. Thursday, another day that's not very humid. Tipters will be closer to 90 degrees at that point. And high pressure stays back to our west. That's going to keep us dry as we go into Friday as well. But eventually we will see some changes in our forecast. I'll take you outside real quick. This is a live look from our Pindo Sky Cam in downtown Raleigh.

We've got a mainly clear sky right now. Tipters are in the 70s across the region. Roxborough the coolest at 70 right now, 78 in Fayetteville and 76 in Raleigh. Your first alert, ACU weather, seven day forecast. This shows tipters gradually climbing as we go toward the end of the week. So we'll see the temperature's in the mid 80s, the next two days, upper 80s by Thursday. It's a little warmer. It's definitely sunny.

Even by Friday, that's the hottest day you're going to see on the seven day forecast. 94 degrees, but it's not going to be all that humid. This weekend, that's where we kind of flip a switch. So winds turn back out of the south. We stay in the low 90s. It'll be pretty humid with maybe a stray storm on. Saturday by Sunday, partly cloudy, and then the next best chance of rain that we have is early next week. That's going to come on Monday. Tiptors then should drop into the upper 80s, and we

will likely see some rain and storms, which we really need. We know that we're still battling drop conditions right now. And of course, with this long dry stretch that we've been in, not much relief in sight, but of course we'll take anything we can get at this point. Cruise is flipping a lot of switches. Muggy meters off tomorrow, but then cranking it back up later in the forecast. Leave that rain switch off. They get some cars washed around here. That's good. Cruz, thank you.

Still ahead. Some of Durham's most familiar small businesses could soon be changing hands. How a new program hopes to keep those community staples open for years to come. And remember, you can always watch Eyewitness News live on ABC 11, Disney Plus and wherever you stream. I witness news. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11. A new initiative announced in Durham today is focused on preserving the legacy of small businesses in the Bull City. And the name aligns with the.

mission keep it Durham owned. The city's partnering with the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center and the Democracy at Work Institute. It's a year-long program. It's to help employee-owned businesses. Organizers say the program is needed because many of these companies don't have succession plans to ensure their legacy lives on. I think it's critical because this offers an opportunity for all of the employees to participate in ownership. So the traditional capitalist model is the owner's benefit and the employees work for pay. In this model, everybody's an owner so everybody gets to share in the growth of the company. There are more than 8, 65, 600 employer firms in Durham County. Nearly 35% of them are owned by people 55 or older.

The clock is ticking toward the Raleigh White Open Music Festival. It's a little more than two weeks away. And the Banjo Countdown Clock is now up and running in City Plaza. The downtown festival is rooted in Raleigh with live bluegrass, Americana, Folk, R&B, and Gospel Music. Plus, they have an art market and there's all kinds of fun for the whole fan. It kicks off on Thursday, October 1st with the celebration on the NC State Centennial campus, and then on the 2nd and 3rd of October, downtown Raleigh really comes alive with different stages of music. ABC 11 is excited to be sponsoring the event once again this year. The next time you head to three Durham parks along the Eno River, you'll find more than new playgrounds there. Three Riverside parks are getting some upgrades.

The design is intended to make play more inclusive and the parks more resilient. Construction is already underway at River Forest Park and Old Farm Road Park, where crews are in installing new playground equipment and inclusive play structures. Those projects should be finished by late fall. American Village Park is next with working work beginning there in October and continuing into early 2027. City leaders say all three parts were also designed with flood resiliency in mind and important consideration along. Belichick was a half going on with his son. A different outside linebacker's coach Ty Nichols said that the duties on defense haven't really changed.

Coach Belichick has been the guy in charge and people's workloads are pretty much the same when they go to Death Valley on Saturday. They're looking to win for the first time there since 2001. And the UNC football investigation there on campus is continuing of what's happening inside that program. Lots happening there. All right, Kate, thank you. And thank you at home for staying up with us late here tonight. Jimmy Kimmel is on the way next. Remember, the news is always on at ABC11.com, Disney Plus, and wherever you stream.

We'll see back here tomorrow night at 11.